Rishab Shetty

2022 marked a significant year for Rishab Shetty with the release of his critically acclaimed film *Kantara* (2022). Born as Prashant Shetty, he later adopted the name Rishab Shetty for his screen persona. His father is an astrologer, and his mother is a homemaker. After completing his schooling in Kundapura, Shetty pursued a Bachelor of Commerce at Vijaya College (BHS FGC) in Jayanagar, Bengaluru. He later earned a diploma in filmmaking from the Government Film and Television Institute in Bengaluru. From a young age, Shetty aspired to work in the film industry. While in class 6, he joined the Durga Parameshwari Yuvaka Sangha and performed as a Yakshagana artist. During his time at Vijaya College, he was part of the theatre group Ranga Sourabha and won the best actor award for his title role in the play *Ghashiram Kotwal* at a national-level theatre contest. After graduation, Shetty began seeking opportunities to break into the film industry while also taking on odd jobs, such as supplying mineral water cans. With his filmmaking diploma, he joined the industry as a clap boy and eventually became an assistant director on the Kannada film *Cyanide* (2006). His acting career began with *Tuglak* (2012), where he played a villain. He later appeared in films such as *Attahaasa* (2013), *Lucia* (2013), and *Ulidavaru Kandanthe* (2014) before transitioning into directing. His directorial debut was *Ricky* (2016), in which he also played a minor role. His next film as both director and actor was *Kirik Party* (2016), a major box office success. For this film, Shetty received the Best Director award at the 6th SIIMA Awards and the 64th Filmfare Awards South. The film also won the 2016 Karnataka State Film Awards for Best Family Entertainer. His next project was *Sarkari. Hi. Pra. Shale Kasaragodu, Koduge: Ramanna Rai* (2018), which received praise for both his acting and direction. The film earned him the 66th National Film Awards for Best Children's Film and the 2018 Karnataka State Film Awards for Best Family Entertainer. As an actor, Shetty appeared in *Ambi Ning Vysaitho* (2018). He made his debut as a lead actor in *Bell Bottom* (2019), followed by roles in *Katha Sangama* (2019) and *Hero* (2021). His performance as a gangster in *Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana* (2021) was well-received by audiences and critics. In 2022, he played dual roles in *Harikathe Alla Girikathe* (2022), and his next film, *Kantara* (2022), was a critical and commercial success. In this Kannada action thriller, he portrayed both the protagonist and his father, and it became the second-highest revenue-generating Kannada film of all time. Shetty has also made cameo appearances in films such as *Avane Srimannarayana* (2019), *SriKrishna@gmail.com* (2021), and *Mishan Impossible* (2022). Rishab Shetty is married to a software engineer who has also worked as a costume designer for several Kannada films. The couple has two children, a son and a daughter.